1959 Peerless Restoration

Post your car-related project and restoration stories here!
Post Reply
User avatar
HealeyBN7
Core Member
Posts: 856
Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2007 6:33 pm
Vehicles Owned: 1959 Peerless GT
1960 Austin Healey 3000
1961 Warwick GT
1971 Lotus Europa
1995 Range Rover
Location: Not Thousand Oaks CA

Re: 1959 Peerless Restoration

Post by HealeyBN7 »

Made a little more progress on fitting trim items. I think the door hinge plates are finally done. The outer plate will be painted body color and the inner plate will be covered in leather/vinyl and piping like the original interior photos. The vent windows now work and are mounted to the inner kevlar reinforcements.

The rain cap for the front of the door is a little fancier than stock, but the one part I had to copy looked like home depot weather stripping. Unfortunately the Warwick offered no clues as the doors were completely redesigned. It will need screw pockets and final sanding/polishing and a small rubber angle seal.

Peerless used an XK120 rear light, but instead of bolting it to the boot, they split the housing and put half in the trunk and the other half outside. It is a challenge to install. The screws provided are too short to bridge the fiberglass filler that was never envisioned. Also, the wires needed to be re-routed to exit in a direction other than straight out the back. I think I have this sorted.

I also started to fit the rear hatch lock. Yep. That's all you get. A key lock and no handle. I suppose you could lift the boot by the rear license plate lamp, the key or hope the gaskets pops the boot out far enough to grab it with your fingers. I need to work on the inside catch before calling that complete.

The tail lights are just resting in their openings. It looks like some additional body work will be needed to ensure a smooth transition.

At some point I hope to get the rear glass fitted and start on fitting the bumpers. I am glad I am doing this before painting. I can't tell you how many times I bumped a tool or piece of trim against the body work...

Dean
Attachments
IMG_8070.jpg
IMG_8070.jpg (91.17 KiB) Viewed 42330 times
IMG_8079.jpg
IMG_8079.jpg (99.84 KiB) Viewed 42330 times
IMG_8084.jpg
IMG_8084.jpg (85.44 KiB) Viewed 42330 times
IMG_8088.jpg
IMG_8088.jpg (77.03 KiB) Viewed 42330 times
User avatar
nigel c
Active Member
Posts: 44
Joined: Tue Dec 11, 2012 2:52 am
Vehicles Owned: Peerless GT phase 1
Peerless GT phase 1
Warwick GT
Toyota MR2 Mk1
Wolseley Hornet Special (1932)
Cluley 14hp open tourer (1926)
BSA M21 (1939)
Claude Butler (1950's)
Location: worcestershire UK
Contact:

Re: 1959 Peerless Restoration

Post by nigel c »

you could have given yourself more room to work and had a tidy round before posting :lol:

Great stuff Dean, few pics for me to put in the next P&WOR Report?
User avatar
HealeyBN7
Core Member
Posts: 856
Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2007 6:33 pm
Vehicles Owned: 1959 Peerless GT
1960 Austin Healey 3000
1961 Warwick GT
1971 Lotus Europa
1995 Range Rover
Location: Not Thousand Oaks CA

Re: 1959 Peerless Restoration

Post by HealeyBN7 »

Nigel, Please do rip off the photos and post to P&WOR!

Here is a little more progress. It looks like the new rear glass will fit, so that was a relief. At this point four pieces of glass installed or resting in the right location the most this car has had under my ownership.

The rear bumpers are now secured to the body. It will take a few carefully placed rubber shims when it comes to the final assembly, but I think it is good enough for paint.

I found the original sun visors but the mounting hardware is rusty. I could re-chrome... They are unusual in that they mount from the center of the visor to a steel plate glassed in the roof. If I can find out exactly what they are from maybe new ones are available? If I am going to use a close alternative, I will have to make new provisions for mountings...

Hmm. Next, turn the car around and sort out the front bumpers, headlights and grill.

Dean
Attachments
IMG_8095.jpg
IMG_8095.jpg (94.43 KiB) Viewed 42320 times
IMG_8097.jpg
IMG_8097.jpg (106.2 KiB) Viewed 42320 times
62424731587__7722B801-9153-48C1-A418-78865C5F61B9.JPG
62424731587__7722B801-9153-48C1-A418-78865C5F61B9.JPG (97.17 KiB) Viewed 42320 times
IMG_8103.jpg
IMG_8103.jpg (88.53 KiB) Viewed 42320 times
User avatar
nigel c
Active Member
Posts: 44
Joined: Tue Dec 11, 2012 2:52 am
Vehicles Owned: Peerless GT phase 1
Peerless GT phase 1
Warwick GT
Toyota MR2 Mk1
Wolseley Hornet Special (1932)
Cluley 14hp open tourer (1926)
BSA M21 (1939)
Claude Butler (1950's)
Location: worcestershire UK
Contact:

Re: 1959 Peerless Restoration

Post by nigel c »

yeas I think the visor brackets are early Morris Minor. if you find a source please let me know as I need some too!

On mine they screwed into a block of wood resin'd into the roof.
User avatar
VWNate1
Veteran Member
Posts: 1402
Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2009 7:41 am
Vehicles Owned: LBC's

Mercedes Diesels OM 616 & 617

1969 Chevrolet C/10 pickup shop truck
250 I-6 , TH350 slushbox

1959 Nash Metropolitan FH Sports Coupe

1961 Morris Minor W/ 1973 1275 CC engine & gearbox

Ural Solo Motos , old Honda 90 CC Tiddlers
Location: Sunny So. Cal. , land of fruits , nuts & flakes

Re: 1959 Peerless Restoration

Post by VWNate1 »

Wow, I can't wait to see this car on the open road ! .

I don't see why you don't re chrome the original sun visor hardware, it looks O.K. and there are good chrome shops in L.A. .

I use a guy who does lots of vintage bicycle chroming , he's good with the little & fiddly stuff .
-Nate
User avatar
Larry Kluss
Veteran Member
Posts: 1087
Joined: Wed Jul 25, 2007 12:28 pm
Vehicles Owned: -
1967 MGB (Works tribute)
1968 E-type Jaguar FHC
1974 Chevy Nova SS (faux)
2000 Ford Ranger XLT
2008 Jaguar XJ L
Location: Conejo Valley

Re: 1959 Peerless Restoration

Post by Larry Kluss »

It's great to see all the shiny bits being added.
User avatar
tannyo
Veteran Member
Posts: 1057
Joined: Wed May 20, 2009 1:58 pm
Vehicles Owned: 1967 MGB GT
Location: North Hollywood, CA
Contact:

Re: 1959 Peerless Restoration

Post by tannyo »

Looks like a 1959 Morris Mini sun visor bracket.

https://www.7ent.com/products/sun-visor ... v2004.html

A23836A6-E536-43DE-A8EE-0B63DD5433C7.jpeg
A23836A6-E536-43DE-A8EE-0B63DD5433C7.jpeg (35.79 KiB) Viewed 42302 times
303FBECC-032A-43BA-A551-D7512FA54477.jpeg
303FBECC-032A-43BA-A551-D7512FA54477.jpeg (33.76 KiB) Viewed 42302 times

Update: May have come from a MGA Coupe
User avatar
HealeyBN7
Core Member
Posts: 856
Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2007 6:33 pm
Vehicles Owned: 1959 Peerless GT
1960 Austin Healey 3000
1961 Warwick GT
1971 Lotus Europa
1995 Range Rover
Location: Not Thousand Oaks CA

Re: 1959 Peerless Restoration

Post by HealeyBN7 »

Tannyo - Thank you. I am going to order four and a few new visors!

Dean

PS I found them here for a more reasonable price. Part number SV2004, used on early Minis & Minors

https://bullmotifminispares.com/4666/br ... al_1959-61
User avatar
HealeyBN7
Core Member
Posts: 856
Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2007 6:33 pm
Vehicles Owned: 1959 Peerless GT
1960 Austin Healey 3000
1961 Warwick GT
1971 Lotus Europa
1995 Range Rover
Location: Not Thousand Oaks CA

Re: 1959 Peerless Restoration

Post by HealeyBN7 »

A little progress on the front end. Headlights needed standoff brackets installed so the finished lamp glass was level with the trim surround. The little aluminum angle pieces were pop riveted to the buckets. Of course the left side is different from the right...

Bumpers fit pretty well. A little detail sanding is needed before paint. Like Larry says, it is nice to see some bright work and nice to know it fits. Unfortunately I can't throw away any boxes as it all has to go back into hiding during the paint cycle...

It is starting to look like a car. Next, drill some more holes and mount the P-emblem.

Dean
Attachments
IMG_8113.jpg
IMG_8113.jpg (116.86 KiB) Viewed 42292 times
IMG_8114.jpg
IMG_8114.jpg (124.18 KiB) Viewed 42292 times
IMG_8128.jpg
IMG_8128.jpg (102.2 KiB) Viewed 42292 times
IMG_8130.jpg
IMG_8130.jpg (91.21 KiB) Viewed 42292 times
User avatar
nigel c
Active Member
Posts: 44
Joined: Tue Dec 11, 2012 2:52 am
Vehicles Owned: Peerless GT phase 1
Peerless GT phase 1
Warwick GT
Toyota MR2 Mk1
Wolseley Hornet Special (1932)
Cluley 14hp open tourer (1926)
BSA M21 (1939)
Claude Butler (1950's)
Location: worcestershire UK
Contact:

Re: 1959 Peerless Restoration

Post by nigel c »

oooah the stable is looking well!
Must have missed the last couple of comments but see that the sun visor brackets were mini/minor. Should be able to source over here too.
In all the UK cars I've seen (that actually have visors) they are smoked acrylic, usually blue not fabric covered with a mirror.
DaveC
Active Member
Posts: 70
Joined: Sun Jan 01, 2012 3:38 am
Vehicles Owned: 59 Peerless GT
63 Morgan Plus4
Location: Santa Monica, CA

Re: 1959 Peerless Restoration

Post by DaveC »

My US car also has the blue acrylic visors.
User avatar
HealeyBN7
Core Member
Posts: 856
Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2007 6:33 pm
Vehicles Owned: 1959 Peerless GT
1960 Austin Healey 3000
1961 Warwick GT
1971 Lotus Europa
1995 Range Rover
Location: Not Thousand Oaks CA

Re: 1959 Peerless Restoration

Post by HealeyBN7 »

DaveC wrote: Mon Nov 30, 2020 10:57 pm My US car also has the blue acrylic visors.
Dave. Nice to hear from you. Any chance you can shoot me a photo of the visor. Thought my visors were 100% original to the car, but...like everything else...

Dean
DaveC
Active Member
Posts: 70
Joined: Sun Jan 01, 2012 3:38 am
Vehicles Owned: 59 Peerless GT
63 Morgan Plus4
Location: Santa Monica, CA

Re: 1959 Peerless Restoration

Post by DaveC »

Hi Dean. Your car looks beautiful, something that will come as no surprise to anyone given the wonderful workmanship you do.

Here is a hastily taken pic. The acrylic is approx 1/8" thick.

dave
Attachments
IMG_3880sml.jpg
User avatar
tannyo
Veteran Member
Posts: 1057
Joined: Wed May 20, 2009 1:58 pm
Vehicles Owned: 1967 MGB GT
Location: North Hollywood, CA
Contact:

Re: 1959 Peerless Restoration

Post by tannyo »

I believe they have them in different colors.

https://www.gbcarparts.com/proddetail.a ... sorperspex
Attachments
997C883C-CA43-47DB-9CCB-1DB828433363.jpeg
997C883C-CA43-47DB-9CCB-1DB828433363.jpeg (38.06 KiB) Viewed 41819 times
User avatar
whitebuffalo
Core Member
Posts: 453
Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2010 10:57 am
Vehicles Owned: 1973 Morris Marina (Morri)
1971 Morris Mini (Kiwi)
1967 Sunbeam Stiletto (Banjo)
1965 Lotus 7 (Westfield) (Westie)
Location: Lancaster, Ca
Contact:

Re: 1959 Peerless Restoration

Post by whitebuffalo »

Do the visors work well enough? Might do the same on one of my cars.
User avatar
HealeyBN7
Core Member
Posts: 856
Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2007 6:33 pm
Vehicles Owned: 1959 Peerless GT
1960 Austin Healey 3000
1961 Warwick GT
1971 Lotus Europa
1995 Range Rover
Location: Not Thousand Oaks CA

Re: 1959 Peerless Restoration

Post by HealeyBN7 »

Just incase anyone was hanging on to this thread for an update. It runs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPrCoRf9Jxg

Yeah

Dean
User avatar
VWNate1
Veteran Member
Posts: 1402
Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2009 7:41 am
Vehicles Owned: LBC's

Mercedes Diesels OM 616 & 617

1969 Chevrolet C/10 pickup shop truck
250 I-6 , TH350 slushbox

1959 Nash Metropolitan FH Sports Coupe

1961 Morris Minor W/ 1973 1275 CC engine & gearbox

Ural Solo Motos , old Honda 90 CC Tiddlers
Location: Sunny So. Cal. , land of fruits , nuts & flakes

1959 Peerless Restoration

Post by VWNate1 »

Are you kidding ? .

We've been waiting for this .

Good work man ! .

:bow:
-Nate
User avatar
HealeyBN7
Core Member
Posts: 856
Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2007 6:33 pm
Vehicles Owned: 1959 Peerless GT
1960 Austin Healey 3000
1961 Warwick GT
1971 Lotus Europa
1995 Range Rover
Location: Not Thousand Oaks CA

Re: 1959 Peerless Restoration

Post by HealeyBN7 »

Official first drive pictures...
IMG_4124.jpg
IMG_4124.jpg (200.49 KiB) Viewed 34900 times
IMG_4125.jpg
IMG_4125.jpg (173.14 KiB) Viewed 34900 times
IMG_4126.jpg
IMG_4126.jpg (139.71 KiB) Viewed 34900 times
IMG_4127.jpg
IMG_4127.jpg (118.67 KiB) Viewed 34900 times
IMG_4128.jpg
IMG_4128.jpg (131.74 KiB) Viewed 34900 times
User avatar
Steve Simmons
Site Admin
Posts: 4106
Joined: Thu Sep 07, 2006 9:45 pm
Vehicles Owned: .
1937 MG SA Saloon
1946 John Deere AN
1949 MG TC
1953 MG TD
1958 MGA Roadster
1959 Morris Minor 1000
1965 MGB
1967 MGB GT (UK-Spec)
1967 Austin Healey 3000 BJ8
1969 MGC GTS
Location: Co-Nay-Ho Valley
Contact:

Re: 1959 Peerless Restoration

Post by Steve Simmons »

Bellisimo! Or should I say, well done old chap! That's probably the nicest Peerless GT in the world.
User avatar
whitebuffalo
Core Member
Posts: 453
Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2010 10:57 am
Vehicles Owned: 1973 Morris Marina (Morri)
1971 Morris Mini (Kiwi)
1967 Sunbeam Stiletto (Banjo)
1965 Lotus 7 (Westfield) (Westie)
Location: Lancaster, Ca
Contact:

Re: 1959 Peerless Restoration

Post by whitebuffalo »

I say ding dong! Looks fantastic.
User avatar
Larry Kluss
Veteran Member
Posts: 1087
Joined: Wed Jul 25, 2007 12:28 pm
Vehicles Owned: -
1967 MGB (Works tribute)
1968 E-type Jaguar FHC
1974 Chevy Nova SS (faux)
2000 Ford Ranger XLT
2008 Jaguar XJ L
Location: Conejo Valley

Re: 1959 Peerless Restoration

Post by Larry Kluss »

Dean, it really does look spectacular! Dave Wellwood would be pleased.
User avatar
Steve Simmons
Site Admin
Posts: 4106
Joined: Thu Sep 07, 2006 9:45 pm
Vehicles Owned: .
1937 MG SA Saloon
1946 John Deere AN
1949 MG TC
1953 MG TD
1958 MGA Roadster
1959 Morris Minor 1000
1965 MGB
1967 MGB GT (UK-Spec)
1967 Austin Healey 3000 BJ8
1969 MGC GTS
Location: Co-Nay-Ho Valley
Contact:

Re: 1959 Peerless Restoration

Post by Steve Simmons »

I think he was even more pleased the day he sold it. :D
Post Reply